all-play-all

noun

plural all-play-alls
British
: a tournament in which each contestant meets every other contestant in turn : round robin
The eight-player all-play-all pits four world-class foreigners against England's top four.Jonathan Speelman, Observer (London), 13 Dec. 2009

Word History

First Known Use

1900, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of all-play-all was in 1900

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

  1. Expanded definitions
  2. Detailed etymologies
  3. Advanced search tools
  4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now

Dictionary Entries Near all-play-all

Cite this Entry

“All-play-all.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/all-play-all. Accessed 15 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!